Ventilator



March 22, 1966 D. RousEY ETAL 3,241,474

VENTILATOR Filed Sept. 10, 1964 United States Patent O 3,241,474 VENTHLATR Donald L Rousey, Des Plaines, Roger D. Melutcheon,

Northfield, and Freeland H. Leslie, Glen Ellyn, Ill.,

assignors to Leslie Welding Co., Inc., Franklin Parli,

Ill., a corporation of Delaware Fiied Sept. 1t), 1954, Ser. No. 395,374 8 Claims. (Cl. @ti-(t2) The present invention relates to a novel ventilator structure, and more specifically to a novel roof ventilator structure.

Numerous structures have heretofore been proposed for mounting on the roof of a building in lorder to ventilate a space beneath the roof. While certain of such heretofore proposed structures have been considered to be generally satisfactory, problems have been encountered in preventing the entry of rain and snow and in obtaining adequate ventilator or air flow without unduly increaslng the size of the ventilator structure.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel roof ventilator which is constructed in a manner for promoting increased air ow therethrough thereby providing improved ventilation for va given size unit.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel roof ventilator which is more efficient in oper-ation and which more effectively prevents the entry 'of rain or snow and the like.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel roof ventilator of the above described type which is adapted to be relatively easily and economically manufactured, assembled and installed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a ventilator structure incorporating features of the present invention mounted on a roof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the ventilator structure partially broken away in order to show certain stmctural features in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 3` in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing a portion of the structure in greater detail.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a ventilator unit incorporating features of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on the ridge 12 of a roof 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The roof 14 may be of any known construction having oppositely sloping sides 16 and 18 covered by a suitable waterproofing material or shingles 2t). In order to permit air to escapefrom beneath the roof for Ventilating purposes, an elongated slot 22 is formed in the roof. The slot preferably traverses the ridge 12, or in other words, is partially formed in both `of the sides 16 and 1'8, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The ventilator unit 10 comprises a base member 24 hav- ICC ing a length and width sufficient to cover the elongated slot 22 in the roof. The base member 24 is preferably molded in one piece from pl-astic material and includes oppositely elongated and relatively inclined side sections 26 and 28 which join each other at a ridge 29 and are adapted to engage and conform to the opposite sides 16 and 18 of the roof. The base member may be secured to the roof by nails or other suitable fasteners 30l driven through opposite longitudinal marginal portion-s 32 and 34 of the base member side sections 26 and 28.

The base member 24 is formed with a plurality of upstanding chimneys or stacks 36. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stacks 36 are spaced from each other longitudinally of the base member and defined transverse passageways 38 therebetween.

Each stack or chimney 36 has a length transversely of the base member 24 suicient to extend entirely across the slot 22 in the roof, and each stack or chimney defines an opening 40 through the base member.

tion extending longitudinally of the base member is rel-atively short. In other words, each opening 40 is in the form of a relatively long narrow slot positioned transversely of the longitudinal axis `of the roof opening or slot opening 22 and the base member 24. The stacks are spaced apart distances substantially greater than the narrow dimensions of the slots 40 so that the passageways 38 are preferably about twice as wide as the slots 40. As shown best in FIG. 3, each chimney or stack 36 extends upwardly sufficiently so as to locate an upper edge 42 thereof substantially above the ridge 12 of the roof.

The ventilator unit 10 is provided with an elongated cap member 44 having a generally arched top panel 46 and depending sides 48 and 50. The cap member 44 has a length and width sufficient completely to cover all of the stacks and also to extend a short distance beyond the opposite endmost stacks in the unit. Opposite ends of the cap member 44 are closed by end walls 52 and 54 shown i in FIGS. 1 and 3. The cap member prevents rain, snow, and the like from falling directly into the stacks or chimneys while at the same time providing a substantial sp-ace above the upper edges of the stacks as shown in FIG. 3`

for promoting free iioW of air upwardly through the stacks.

comprises -a first pair of groups of oppositely inclined.

louvers 58 and 60 immediately adjacent one of the stacks and -a second -pair of groups of oppositely inclined louvers 62., 64 immediately adjacent another of the stacks, which pairs of groups of louvers are preferably separated by a flat, central section 65.

As shown best in FIG. 3, louvers 58 are disposed at one side of lthe roof ridge 12 and are oppositely inclined with respect to the roof side 16 while the louvers 60 are disposed at the opposite side of the ridge 12 and are oppositely inclined with respect to the roof side 18. The louvers 62 are disposed in the same manner as the louvers 58 while louvers 64 are disposed in the same manner as Preferably the dimension of each stack 36 and its opening 40 in a directhe louvers 60. This arrangement not only aids in resisting the entry of rain, snow and the like, but also aids in promoting increased Ventilating eihciency. The louver plates which extend between the opposite end walls of the cap member and the opposite endmost stacks, may7 if desired, be provided with only a single set of louver groups.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, each stack or chimney 36 is formed with an annular shoulder 66 adjacent the `upper margin 42 thereof. Each louver plate 56 has a margin formed around the adjacent stack members and supported on a shoulder e6 of the stack members. Preferably each group or plaie member 56 includes depending flanges 68 and 70 extending along side or end surfaces of the adjacent stacks and secured thereto by suitable fastening means such as staples 72.

The depending walls or sides 44 and 50 of the cap member are preferably provided with shoulders 74 and 76 engageable over ends of the shoulders 66 of the stack member and more specically engageable over marginal portions of the louver plates as shown best in FIGS. 3 `and so that the cap member is positioned with the upper wall 46 thereof properly elevated above the ends of the stacks or chimneys and the louver plates. Screws 78 or other suitable fastening devices are inserted through lower margins of the depending cap sidewalls 48 and S0 and into adjacent stack or chimney elements for securing the cap member in position.

When the ventilator l@ is installed in a roof as shown in the drawings, the wind blowing across the roof, regardless of direction, Hows through the passageways 33 between the upstanding stacks. The passageways defined by the stacks and the louver plates provide a plurality of streams -or jets of the wind or air flowing therethrough and along undersides of the louver plates S6 for obtaining a jet pump-like action which aids in drawing the air through the louvers and from a space beneath the cap member and up through the chimneys so as to promote a more efficient and increased ventilation of the space beneath the roof.

It Will be noted that the upstanding chimneys or stacks 36 project above the roof ridge 12 and the sides 26 and 28 of the ventilator base member are continuous between the stacks so that under normal conditions any rain or water which may blow up the sides 26 and 28 will be prevented from entering the openings 4t). As previously indicated, the louvers also aid in preventing any water from spraying upwardly and then into the tops of the chimneys or stacks.

In order further to minimize any possibility of rainwater being blown upwardly into the ventilator unit in sufficient quantities to cause leaking, particularly under severe weather conditions, elongated inverted t-Shaped baiiles 88 and 9@ are formed integrally with the opposite sides 26 and 28 of the base member 24. The battles 88 and 9d are spaced substantial distances from the opposite side of the stacks so that under normal weather conditions air may flow freely between the stacks. The ow may further be aided by inclining the sides 92 and 94 of the batl'les which face inwardly or toward the stacks. As shown in FIG. 3, this inclination is in an upward and outward direction. On the other hand, outwardly facing sides 96 and 98 of the baffles are arranged generally perpendicularly and extend to a level approaching the plane of the lowermost edge of the cap member. This arrangement promotes deection of the wind and rainwater carried thereby during severe weather conditions in a manner so as to minimize any possibility of the rain entering the openings through the roof.

Furthermore, the baies deflect a portion of the wind over the top member 44. The velocity of the air owing over the top member increases and this action is further promoted by forming the top member with an arched or curved cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIGS. l-3. As the velocity of the air ilowing over the top dmember 44 increases, the air pressure over the tOP mem ber and between the top member and the bafiies deCreaSS with respect to the relatively stationary air under the roof whereby the higher pressure under the roof aids in forcing air upwardly and outwardly through the ventilator unit.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new, and desired to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

il. A ventilator adapted to be mounted over an elongated opening in the roof of a building, comprising elongated base means having longitudinal extending Inarginal portions positionable against the roof at opposite sides of said elongated opening, a plurality of chimneys spaced apart longitudinally of said base means and having open lower ends connected to said base means and adapted to communicate with said opening, said chimneys having transverse dimensions greater in a direction extending transversely of said base means than longitudinally of said base means, said chimneys defining air ilow passageways therebetween, and a cap member mounted above said chimneys, said cap member having a top portion spaced above upper ends of said chimneys for permitting air to flow upwardly through the chimneys and into the cap member and then out through said passageways, said base means including elongated and upstanding baiiie elements extending longitudinally of sai-d mar- -ginal portions and spaced laterally outwardly of opposite ends of said passageways.

2. A ventilator, as defined in claim il, wherein said cap means includes opposite side portions extending along opposite sides of said chimneys and having lower margins below upper ends of said chimneys, and said baffles having upper edges in a plane adjacent said lower margins.

3. A ventilator, as dened in claim 3l, which includes louver plate means extending between upper end portions of said chimneys beneath said cap member.

4. A ventilator adapted to be mounted over an elongated opening in oppositely inclined sides of a roof lof a building, comprising an elongated base `member including oppositely inclined sides joining each other along a central ridge and having longitudinally extending opposite marginal portions engageable with said opposite sides ofthe roof along opposite edges of said openings, a plurality of chimneys spaced apart longitudinally of the base member and having lower ends joined to the base member and defining openings through said base member, said chimneys traversing said4 ridge and presenting generally horizontally disposed upper margins above said ridge, and an elongated cap member mounted above said chimneys, said cap member including a top portion hspaced above said chimneys and depending opposite side portions secured to upper margins of said chimneys, said depending opposite side portions having lower free marginal edges disposed below sai-d upper margins of the chimneys.

.5. A ventilator, as defined in claim 4, wherein said chimneys have rst predetermined transverse dimensions elongated in a direction extending transversely of said base member and smaller transverse dimensions in a direction extending longitudinally of said base member, said chimneys being spaced apart distances substantially/ greater than said Smaller transverse dimensions thereof.

6. A ventilator, as dened in claim 5, which includes louver plates mounted around upper margins of adjacent chimneys and beneath said cap member and above the lower free marginal edges of cap member, said louver plates including groups of louvers at opposite sides of said ridge and respectively oppositely inclined relative 5 to `the inclined side section of the base member therebeneath.

7. A ventilator, as deined in claim 4, which includes baille elements on and extending longitudinally of said base member at opposite sides of and spaced laterally outwardly from said chimney, said baille elements respectively having generally inwardly facing surfaces eX- tending upwardly and laterally outwardly away from said chimneys `and outwardly facing surfaces extending generally vertically upwardly, and said baie elements having upper edges disposed in a plane adjacent lower marginal edges of said cap member.

8. A ventilator, as defined in claim 4, wherein said cap member has an arched transverse cross section.

6 References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,711,126 6/1955 Atkinson 98-42 X 3,073,235 l/1963 Smith et al. 98-32 3,079,853 3/1963 Smith 98e-l21 FOREIGN PATENTS 761,964 1/ 1934 France.

10 WILLIAM F. oDEA, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VENTILATOR ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED OVER A ELONGATED OPENING IN THE ROOF OF A BUILDING, COMPRISING ELONGATED BASE MEANS HAVING LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING MARGINAL PORTIONS POSITIONABLE AGAINST THE ROOF AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ELONGATED OPENING, A PLURALITY OF CHIMNEYS SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BASE MEANS AND HAVING OPEN LOWER ENDS CONNECTED TO SAID BASE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH SAID OPENING, SAID CHIMNEYS HAVING TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS GREATER IN A DIRECTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE MEANS THAT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BASE MEANS, SAID CHIMNEYS DEFINING AIR FLOW PASSAGEWAYS THEREBETWEEN, AND A CAP MEMBER MOUNTED ABOVE SAID CHIMNEYS, SAID CAP MEMBER HAVING A TOP PORTION SPACED ABOVE UPPER ENDS OF SAID CHIMNEYS FOR PERMITTING AIR TO FLOW UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CHIMNEYS AND INTO THE CAP MEMBER AND THEN OUT THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAYS, SAID BASE MEANS INCLUDING ELONGATED AND UPSTANDING BAFFLE ELEMENTS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS AND SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS. 